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During the spring and summer here in Connecticut, we get a lot of thunderstorms but occasionally the atmosphere is ripe and the storms have the potential to become severe.

The key is whether your family would know where to go and what to do when the big one potentially hits.

The American Red Cross said that no matter how you get a severe weather warning -- from television, the radio or your smartphone or tablet -- it’s time to spring into action once you see a tornado warning.

That means going to the safest spot in your home or office. An underground or windowless space is the best possible place to be in a tornado.

If you don’t have a basement, the safest place to be is in a small, interior room, a closet bathroom or an interior hallway on the lowest floor of your house.

It’s also important to realize that not all basements are safe, especially walkout basements with sliding glass doors.

Shipman said the glass could come flying at you. He also warned that any lawn furniture will become a projectile.

“You want to be in a strong, reinforced space,” Shipman said.

When coming up with a safety plan for you and your family, putting together a safety kit is a good idea.

That should include a flashlight, bottles of water, a few snacks, work gloves, extra batteries and cash.

If you are on any kind of prescriptions, have a week's supply for yourself.